Tag: National Assembly

National Assembly building roofs leak under heavy downpour

Aminu Imam

What could be described as a national embarrassment hit the parliament on Tuesday, as the 23-years-old National Assembly building gave way to a heavy downpour, which disrupted the activities in the upper chamber. The massive downpour caused leakage in the roof of the White House, which housed the two chambers of the National Assembly building. The development rendered many lawmakers stranded for some minutes before the rain subsided. The lobby of the Assembly was practically impassable at 11 a.m, as cleaners were immediately mobilised to divert the water and clean…

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“Suspend the 1999 Constitution review”, CNG tells National Assembly

Aminu Imam

The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), yesterday, called on the National Assembly to suspend the review of the 1999 Constitution, describing it as ill-timed and uncalled for, particularly in the face of the growing agitation for Nigerias break-up. This was part of the presentation which CNG made before the leadership of the National Assembly against the backdrop of the disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, in the form of the agitation for a separate State of Biafra. It also urged the National Assembly to invoke the doctrine…

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“Only N’Assembly can address restructuring, true federalism” – Buhari

Aminu Imam

President Muhammadu Buhari yesterday broke his silence over the contentious issues of restructuring and true federalism/devolution of power saying they are constitutional issues which only the National Assembly can handle. He, however, stressed his belief in devolving more power to the people. President Buhari spoke while receiving in audience members of the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council, (NIREC), led by Co-Chairmen, Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alh. Muhammad Saad Abubakar III and President of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), His Eminence, Rev. Dr. Samson Supo Ayokunle, at the State House, Abuja. On…

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“Stop Constitution review, organise Biafra referendum”, CNG urges NASS

Aminu Imam

The Coalition of Northern Groups, (CNG), yesterday, called on the National Assembly to suspend the review of the 1999 Constitution, describing it as ill-timed and uncalled for, particularly in the face of the growing agitation for Nigerias break-up. This was part of the presentation which CNG made before the leadership of the National Assembly against the backdrop of the disturbances created by certain interest groups in the South-East, in the form of the agitation for a separate State of Biafra. The CNG also urged the National Assembly to invoke the…

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Legislators Jumbo pay: Court orders RMAFC to fix salaries of National Assembly members

Aminu Imam

A Federal High Court, in Lagos, ordered the RMAFC to fix their salaries and allowances, signalling the end of the era of jumbo pay for the legislators. In a landmark judgment yesterday, the Federal High Court ordered the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission, (RMAFC), to fix the salaries and allowances of the 469 members of the Upper and Lower Chambers. The judgment by Justice Chuka Austine Obiozor followed the consolidated suits brought by Monday Ubani, John Nwokwu, more than 1,500 concerned Nigerians, Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), BudgIT…

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Constitution Review: Group wants NASS to prioritise human rights Constitution

Abdul-Azeez Ahmed Kadir

An election monitoring group, Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) has called on the National Assembly to bequeath Nigerians, a Constitution that will address and protect human rights of every individual. Executive Director, CTA, Ms Faith Nwadishi, made the call in an interview in Abuja. Nwadishi said that the group was looking at a Constitution that would address and protect rights of every individual, especially the right of women to participate in building democracy. This is such that we do not have a one-sided participation where you have few people, who…

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Insecurity: ‘NASS to step-up interventions to protect Nigerians’ Lawan

Aminu Imam

Says: ‘We’re tired of observing a minute silence for casualties’ The President of the Senate, Ahmad Lawan, has said that legislative interventions must be stepped-up by the National Assembly to protect Nigerians against the heightening spate of insecurity in the country. Lawan made this known yesterday, when the Upper Chamber held one-minute silence six times during plenary to honour Nigerians who lost their lives to various forms of insecurity in the country. According to the Senate President, it is imperative for the National Assembly to step up legislative interventions to…

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Kaduna schools abductions: Parents of kidnapped students protest at NASS

Aminu Imam

Demand return of children, end to insecurity Parents of the abducted students of the College of Forestry Mechanisation, Afaka, in Kaduna State, yesterday took a protest to the National Assembly complex, Abuja, to register their grievances. The protesting parents were joined by members of the Students Union Government (SUG) of the institution, as well as some civil society organisations, (CSOs). They lamented the negligence of the State and Federal Government in securing the release of their children. They blocked the entrance to the Federal Secretariat axis of the complex as…

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‘National Assembly is broke, environment not conducive for lawmakers’ – Legislator

Aminu Imam

The House of Representatives has revealed that the National Assembly is broke, because it is underfunded to function efficiently and effectively as a national parliament.  The lamentation came from Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Benjamin Kalu, at his weekly media conference yesterday.  The House decried that the paucity of funds has made the working environment not conducive for lawmakers while they have not been able to carry out their legislative activities to the best of their ability.  Recall that the National Assembly had a budget…

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FG contractors protest in National Assembly over unpaid N8bn

Aminu Imam

A group of contractors who said they executed various projects amounting to N8 billion for the Project Development Institute, Enugu, stormed the National Assembly, (NASS) Complex yesterday to protest the non-payment of their money by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The contractors explained that the money is for the settlement the N8bn outstanding for constituency projects they completed since December 2020. The protesters took over the main entrance of the National Assembly complex; chanting solidarity songs for several hours. Speaking with newsmen, the leader of the group, Joy Uche,…

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